Pull-tab for zipper

ABSTRACT

A pull-tab for zipper is disclosed to include a female pull-tab member having a flexible cord member extending from the periphery, and a male pull-tab member affixed to the end of the flexible cord member after insertion of the flexible cord member through a through hole of a zipper&#39;s slide and engaged into the female pull-tab member to secure the flexible cord member to the slide of the zipper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to zippers and more specifically, to a pull-tab for zipper, which is comprised of a female pull-tab member with a flexible cord member, and a male pull-tab member affixed to the distal end of the flexible cord member of the female pull-tab member and forced into engagement with the male pull-tab member to secure the flexible cord member to the slide of a zipper.

2. Description of the Related Art

A zipper is a device for temporarily joining two edges of a fabric in a dress or bag. A zipper generally comprises two rows of interlocking metal or plastic teeth that may be closed or separated by a sliding device. FIG. 5 shows a conventional zipper slide A that has a hook A1 at one side and a pull-tab B coupled to the hook A1. The pull-tab B has a hook hole B1 by which the pull-tab B is coupled to the hook A1 of the zipper slide A. According to this design, the zipper slide A and the pull-tab B are made out of metal. Because the pull-tab B is a thin metal tab and because the hook hole B1 is provided at one end of the pull-tab B, the pull-tab B may break easily after a long use. Further, because the diameter of the hook hole B1 is much greater than the width of the hook A1, the pull-tab B normally slope in one direction, and the end of the pull-tab B may be pressed on the teeth of the zipper. When pulling the zipper slide A, a user must lift the pull-tab B from the teeth of the zipper and then hold and pull the pull-tab B. Therefore, it is inconvenient to operate the zipper slide A. Further, because the pull-tab B is made out of metal, the cost is high.

FIG. 6 shows another prior art design. According to this design, the pull-tab C is comprised of a pull-tab body C2 and a cord member C1 securing the pull-tab body C2 to a hook A1 of a zipper slide A. During installation, the two opposite ends of the cord member C1 are bonded to the pull-tab body C2 by means of thermal fusion, knot-tying technique or riveting. Because the cord member C1 and the pull-tab body C2 are two separated members, the fabrication and installation of the pull-tab C are complicated, resulting in a high manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. According to one aspect of the present invention, the pull-tab comprises a female pull-tab member carrying an integrated flexible cord member, and a male pull-tab member affixed to the end of the flexible cord member after insertion of the flexible cord member through a through hole of a zipper's slide and engaged into the female pull-tab member to secure the flexible cord member to the slide of the zipper. The male pull-tab member with the flexible cord member and the female pull-tab member can be molded from plastics or rubber, saving the cost.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the male pull-tab member comprises a side chamber and at least one engagement portion protruding in the side chamber, and the flexible cord member has at least one locating groove disposed at the distal end thereof and forced into engagement with the at least one engagement portion of the male pull-tab member. Further, the pulling direction of the flexible cord member is perpendicular to the mounting direction of between the at least one locating groove and the at least one engagement portion, and therefore pulling the flexible cord member does not cause disconnection of the flexible cord member from the side chamber of the male pull-tab member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of pull-tab in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 1, showing the male pull-tab member fastened to the free end of the flexible cord member.

FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2, showing the male pull-tab member fastened to the female pull-tab member.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation of the pull-tab in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a prior art design.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of another structure of prior art design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1˜4, a pull-tab in accordance with the present invention is shown fastened to a zipper's slide 3 for pulling by a user to move conveniently. The pull-tab is comprised of a female pull-tab member 1 and a male pull-tab member 2.

The female pull-tab member 1 defines a receiving space 10 and comprises two retaining rims 11 respectively suspending at top and bottom sides of the receiving space 10. The female pull-tab member 1 further has a flexible cord member 12 extended from the periphery. The flexible cord member 12 has at least one, for example, two locating grooves 13 symmetrically disposed at two opposite sides of the free end. The female pull-tab member 1 and the flexible cord member 12 can be directly molded from plastics or rubber, or made in integrity from any of a variety of other flexible material, allowing free bending of the cord member 12.

The male pull-tab member 2 has a side chamber 20 for receiving the free end of the flexible cord member 12 of the female pull-tab member 1, two retaining portions 21 respectively protruding from top and bottom sides thereof, a handle 22 extending from the periphery, and two engagement portions 23 respectively disposed at top and bottom sides in the side chamber 20 corresponding to the locating grooves 13 of the flexible cord member 12 of the female pull-tab member 1.

During installation, the flexible cord member 12 of the female pull-tab member 1 is inserted through a through hole 31 of the zipper's slide 3, and then the free end of the flexible cord member 12 is forced into the side chamber 20 to force the locating grooves 13 of the flexible cord member 12 of the female pull-tab member 1 into engagement with the engagement portions 23 tightly (see FIG. 4), and then the male pull-tab member 2 is transversely inserted into the receiving space 10 defined in the female pull-tab member 1 (see FIG. 2) to force the retaining portions 21 into engagement with the retaining rims 11 respectively (see FIG. 3). Further, by means of the handle 22, a user can hold and move the male pull-tab member 2 conveniently.

When the female pull-tab member 1 and the male pull-tab member 2 are assembled, the locating grooves 13 of the flexible cord member 12 of the female pull-tab member 1 and the engagement portions 23 are respectively and firmly engagement together (see FIG. 4). Because the pulling direction of the flexible cord member 12 is perpendicular to the mounting direction of between the locating grooves 13 and the engagement portions 23, pulling the flexible cord member 12 does not cause disconnection of the flexible cord member 12 from the side chamber 20 of the male pull-tab member 2. Therefore, a user can pull the pull-tab to move the zipper's slide 3 forwards or backwards along the zipper tapes (not shown) conveniently. Further, the retaining portions 21 can be made having a design in it. The design can be a commercial logo, a trademark, a size specification or a pattern.

As stated above, the invention provides a pull-tab for zipper that has features and characteristics as follows:

1. Unlike conventional designs, the invention has a flexible cord member 12 directly formed on and extending from the periphery of a female pull-tab member 1 for the connection of a male pull-tab member 2 after insertion through a through hole 31 of a zipper's slide 3. By means of fastening the male pull-tab member 2 to the female pull-tab member 1 directly, the installation of the pull-tab is done. This installation procedure is quite simple. Further, because the female pull-tab member 1, the flexible cord member 12 and the male pull-tab member 2 can be directly molded from plastics or rubber, the manufacturing cost of the pull-tab is low.

2. Because the pulling direction of the flexible cord member 12 is perpendicular to the mounting direction of between the locating grooves 13 and the engagement portions 23, pulling the flexible cord member 12 does not cause disconnection of the flexible cord member 12 from the side chamber 20 of the male pull-tab member 2, i.e., the pull-tab has high tensile strength.

In conclusion, the invention provides a pull-tab, which comprises a female pull-tab member 1 having an integrated flexible cord member 12 for insertion through a through hole 31 of a zipper's slide 3, and a male pull-tab member 2 fastened to the free end of the cord member 12 and then forced into engagement with the female pull-tab member 1. The cord member 12 has locating grooves 13 at the free end. The male pull-tab member 2 has a side chamber 20 for receiving the free end of the cord member 12, and engagement portions 23 for engagement with the locating grooves 13 of the cord member 12 after insertion of the cord member 12 into the side chamber 20.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A pull-tab fastened to a through hole of a slide of a zipper for pulling, said pull-tab comprising: a female pull-tab member, said female pull-tab member defining a receiving space and having a flexible cord member extending from the periphery thereof; and a male pull-tab member fastened to a distal end of said flexible cord member remote from said female pull-tab member and engaged into said receiving space to secure said flexible cord member to said zipper's slide.
 2. The pull-tab as claimed in claim 1, wherein said female pull-tab member and said flexible cord member are made in integrity from a plastic material.
 3. The pull-tab as claimed in claim 1, wherein said female pull-tab member and said flexible cord member are made in integrity from rubber.
 4. The pull-tab as claimed in claim 1, wherein said female pull-tab member comprises two retaining rims suspending at top and bottom sides of said receiving space; said male pull-tab member comprises two retaining portions respectively protruded from top and bottom sides thereof and respectively forced into engagement with said retaining rims upon insertion of said male pull-tab member into said receiving space of said female pull-tab member.
 5. The pull-tab as claimed in claim 1, wherein said male pull-tab member comprises a side chamber and at least one engagement portion protruding in said side chamber; said flexible cord member has at least one locating groove disposed at the distal end thereof and forced into engagement with said at least one engagement portion of said male pull-tab member.
 6. The pull-tab as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mounting direction between said at least one locating groove of said flexible cord member and said at least one engagement portion of said male pull-tab member is perpendicular to the extending direction of said flexible cord member.
 7. The pull-tab as claimed in claim 1, wherein said male pull-tab member comprises a handle protruded from the periphery thereof.
 8. The pull-tab as claimed in claim 1, wherein said side chamber of said male pull-tab member is received inside said receiving space of said female pull-tab member after engagement of said male pull-tab member into said receiving space of said female pull-tab member. 